FROW Gaming Highlights | The Latest Nintendo Direct VS PlayStation State of Play

Last week gamers were treated to back-to-back showcases by two of the greatest gaming giants,  Nintendo and PlayStation. They both had their own gaming streams within hours of each other and we'll be giving you a rundown of some of the biggest announcements and updates to come from each broadcast - from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 to Super Mario RPG and Dave The Diver. 

 First off, we have three highlights from the Nintendo Direct.

This year's winter Nintendo Direct was on the 14th of September, showcasing to switch gamers the games to come. This direct has been criticized to be mainly remakes and remodels, which for some fans is solidifying the rumours of a new console coming soon. Regardless, we still feel like there are some gems in here and have picked our top three.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door - The return of a classic!

Firstly, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is getting a remake and the art and design aspects have been beautifully translated in this latest trailer. Nineteen years later, fans of the GameCube Classic will be transported back to their childhood when the game is released next year.

Dave The Diver

The beloved, wholesome indie game Dave The Diver (£16.99) is coming to Switch!  If you want to be fishing during the day or a sushi restaurant owner when the sun goes down, look no further.  If you still need convincing on going into the splash zone, there is a demo on the Nintendo eshop right now! Otherwise, it will anchor down on 26th October.

Super Mario RPG

We don’t have to wait too much longer for the anticipated remake of the 1996 Super Mario RPG game, which was revealed in the Nintendo Direct back in June. The release date has been revealed and drop on 17th November for £49.99. 

The trailer shown at the recent Direct gave us a better glimpse into the game mechanics, such as the epic boss fights we all know and love from the original. An amazing feature which is sure to be a hit with the biggest fans is the choice to switch between the remake soundtrack and the SNES soundtrack, giving us the biggest nostalgia feels. Which one would you choose? Let us know over on our Twitter/X  and tell us which announcement you the most excited about? 

Fae Farm

Bonus mention! In recent Nintendo news, Fae farm was released for the Switch.

This one is for the cosy gamers! This title by Pheonix Labs has been one that has been talked about a lot online for the past year. It brings every aspect you’d want from a life/ crafting simulator into one game with a huge focus on farming, storyline, customisation and a hell of a lot more. 

If you are a fan of Wylde Flowers, Cozy Cove or Stardew Valley and also love magic, potions and spells, this might be worth getting. You might have to save up depending on what platform you buy it on the game but for PC it starts at £29.99.  If you want to explore the enchanted island known as Azoria and everything it entails, why not get up 3 of your friends to take on the adventure as well!

PlayStation State of Play

Wasting no time, PlayStation's State of Play streamed a nearly 30-minute showcase. The powerhouse gave us with some much needed updates to some highly anticipated titles.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - Insomniacs Dynamic Duo coming Exclusively to PlayStation

There has been a new gameplay trailer for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which will release on the 20th of October. It goes into detail about the new locations with the map of Marvel’s New York nearly doubling in size. You will also be able to switch between two different characters, Peter Parker and Miles Morales in the open world and each will come with their own separate challenges and side stories. A lot has changed since the first game, it's jampacked with rich storytelling and action, both of which will feature two new villains joining the roster, including Venom and Kraven the Hunter. The customisation isn't lost either with a whopping 65 suits (including the original designs) to equip with over 200 ways to style your spider-you. There will also be a digital deluxe edition with plenty of things to kickstart your game into full fruition. It is priced at £69.99 and will be exclusively for PS5.

Resident Evil 4 - Separate Ways DLC

Resident Evil 4's Separate Ways paid DLC starring Ada Wong releases today.

The remake of the original 2005 action survival horror game revitalised the title back in March of this year with dramatic updates to the graphics, gameplay and story. Armed with a grappling gun, Ada will have access to new ranged attacks in addition to her traversal of areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. In Separate Ways we'll follow the events of Resident Evil 4 (2023) from Ada's perspective as we explore the mysteries leftover from the base game's story. 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora makes its strongest showing yet with this latest story trailer. James Cameron's Avatar game is set to release on December 7th 2023 and despite the misleading end screen to this trailer, the title will also be coming to Xbox and PC platforms as well as PlayStation.

The first-person action adventure set in the record breaking cinematic universe of the Avatar series seems to give players the opportunity to explore the culture and practises of the Na'vi, while exploring the open-world of Pandora. The title is priced steeply at the new industry standard, £69.99 on PlayStation.

Ghostrunner 2

With a playable demo released the day of the stream, Ghostrunner 2 is a game focused on player precision and speed. We get to play as the cybernetic ninja Ghostrunner Jack, as he fights to protect humanity in this post-apocalyptic cyberpunk setting. 

Still a speed runners dream, this sequel adds mechanics that make it more accessible then its predecessor, giving players the ability to block and even parry attacks. It will also introduce the cyberpunk staple of high powered bike action. The game is set to release on October 23rd 2023.

PlayStation Deep Earth Collection

In accessory news, PlayStation is releasing a new line of PS5 console covers and DualSense wireless controllers with this Deep Earth collection.

These metallic makeovers come in: Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, and Sterling Silver.

Pre-orders will begin on October 4th 2023 followed by the launch of Volcanic Red and Cobalt Blue accessories on the 3rd of November 2023. The pair will be shortly followed up by the Sterling Silver set on the 26th of January 2024.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2, the third-person co-operative PvE shooter developed by Arrowhead 

is scheduled for launch on the 8th of February 2024. This title will only be available to play on  PlayStation 5 and PC.  , the game is only able to be wish listed at the moment.

This online co-op shooter will see you joining the elite forces of the Helldivers to fight for freedom in a hostile galaxy filled with uncertainty and battle in a team of four. Defeat the rising alien threats using a wide variety of weapons and strategems to vanquish them for good! 

Foamstars

Brazen Splatoon lookalike, Foamstars is hosting an open Beta from the 29th of September to the 1st of October.

The four vs four PlayStation exclusive online PvP shooter will be available in its complete state early 2024 for both PS4 and PS5. 

Blast foam and create slippery surfaces to quickly surf around whilst building foam terrain and shoot the enemy. Choose your Foamstar from the eight characters available - all with their own unique foam guns and skill set to enhance gameplay to the next level!

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the follow-up to 2020's Final Fantasy 7 Remake and part two-of-three in this remake series will launch February 29th 2024 on two discs.

This re-imagining of the 1997 original, comes exclusively to the PlayStation 5.

This RPG offers amazing graphics to compliment the in depth storyline with real-time action. Continuing from the first installment of the trilogy, the game follows Cloud Strife, an eco-warrior determined to battle the evil Shinra Corporation draining the earth of life energy. This game is sure to be a win for fans of the original, and RPGs as a whole. 

If you missed the stream  - catch up below 👇🏾